This Week in Science

Based at University of California Davis, This Week in Science is the most energetic science show I've ever had occasion to listen to. The format plays out like a cross between Ripley's Believe it or Not and Entertainment Weekly with a strong foundation in scientific fact. Topics regularly include events from the current week's news in the scientific community, given a spin that makes them more lively than the standard read on scientific information. The reporting of information is dead on; it's just stripped of the stuffy tone frequently accompanying weighty topics. Headlines like World Robot Domination and Exploding Toads grab your attention and then deliver an interesting tidbit, making you forget you're actually learning something. Many shows also feature interviews from noteworthy members of the scientific community and science fiction writers (my personal favorite interview is one with William Gibson). Callers also dial in to get their questions answered on air. On Tuesdays at 8:30 a.m. Pacific (GMT -8) you can listen live from the streaming broadcast. For a dose of good clean science fun, tune in for Kirsten Sanford and her sidekick Justin.